An assessment of the scientific merits of action research

🤖 Plain-English Summary

This article describes the deficiencies of positivist science for generating knowledge for use in solving problems that members of organizations face. Action research can base its legitimacy as science in philosophical traditions that are different from those which legitimate positivist science.

🔑 Key Findings

• Action research is introduced as a method for correcting these deficiencies.
• When action research is tested against the criteria of positivist science, action research is found not to meet its critical tests.
• The appropriateness of positivist science is questioned as a basis for judging the scientific merits of action research.

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